Enjoy November events! Introducing ideas you’ll want to incorporate into childcare.
When it comes to November events, we think of Labor Thanksgiving Day and Shichi-Go-San.
Some preschools might also go sweet potato digging.
Of course, enjoying the events themselves is important, but if children can play and explore the themes of these events in a fun, hands-on way, they’ll feel more familiar and connected to them.
In this article, we’ll introduce songs, finger plays, and craft ideas related to November’s events.
By incorporating them into childcare activities, you can enjoy the events with children in a variety of ways.
We hope you find some favorite ideas to try!
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Enjoy November events! Ideas to incorporate into childcare (1–10)
[Shichi-Go-San] Pretend Chitose Ame (thousand-year candy) Play
![[Shichi-Go-San] Pretend Chitose Ame (thousand-year candy) Play](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CEVlvnN2uIg/sddefault.jpg)
Chitose-ame, the long “thousand-year candy” children hold for Shichi-Go-San.
Here’s an idea to make your own original candy bag and enjoy pretend play.
The bag is simple to make: prepare one sheet of construction paper and fold it in thirds.
Tape along the folds and the bottom to form a bag, then write “Chitose-ame” on it and decorate with your favorite origami paper or drawings.
Finally, punch holes at the top and attach a ribbon as a handle—done! You can make pretend chitose-ame to put inside, act out visiting a shrine with your chitose-ame bag, or strike a cute pose!
Shichi-Go-San: Hand Play ‘Lovely Shichi-Go-San’
“Suteki na Shichi-Go-San” is a hand-play song that clearly conveys the excitement of Shichi-Go-San and what the event is about.
With its rhythmic, cheerful tempo, it can be enjoyed even by children who aren’t the age for the Shichi-Go-San celebration.
For the signature pose parts in between, it could be fun to let the children make up their own original poses.
Smiling and getting lively with the hand-play song will help everyone share in the spirit of celebrating Shichi-Go-San.
And don’t forget for the teacher to have fun too!
Labor Thanksgiving Day: Medal of Appreciation
How about making a medal to give on Labor Thanksgiving Day? There are many ways to make medals, but simple ones can be made even by children.
If you fold a medal out of gold or silver origami paper and decorate it with stickers or ribbons afterward, it will look wonderful.
Labor Thanksgiving Day is a day to show appreciation for people who work, so why not make one and give it to your father or mother? It’s also a great idea to give medals to preschool or kindergarten children who helped out.
Enjoy November events! Introducing ideas you’ll want to incorporate into childcare (11–20)
[Labor Thanksgiving Day] Bouquet Making
![[Labor Thanksgiving Day] Bouquet Making](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eEYM7MMp8Z0/sddefault.jpg)
On Labor Thanksgiving Day, try making a handmade bouquet to show your appreciation to the working members of your family.
You can easily make one with origami, so give it a try.
Make the flowers using quarter-size origami paper.
It’s nice to choose colors that match the image of the person you’re giving it to.
For wrapping, you can use patterned origami paper, or cut wrapping paper down to origami size for a cute look.
It’s not only perfect for Labor Thanksgiving Day—people will also love receiving it in place of a birthday card.
[Labor Thanksgiving Day] Fingerplay ‘Excuse me, Mr. Udon Shopkeeper’
![[Labor Thanksgiving Day] Fingerplay 'Excuse me, Mr. Udon Shopkeeper'](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MhtAYyS8yBY/sddefault.jpg)
In November, when Labor Thanksgiving Day is celebrated, the places most familiar to children might be restaurants where they eat.
How about singing a hand-play song about such places? If you arrange the original tune, you could make songs about all kinds of shops—udon shops, ramen shops, restaurants, and more.
Creating songs may also spark more interest than usual in the various places where we eat.
It might be nice to work on the hand-play song while talking about things like what kind of menus they have.
[Preschoolers] Sweet Potato Digging!?
![[Preschoolers] Sweet Potato Digging!?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D9JRnI_SjF4/sddefault.jpg)
When it comes to fun events in November, sweet potato digging in autumn comes to mind.
For children, the chance to harvest something growing in a field is rare, and many may not even know how vegetables and fruit grow.
By pretending to dig up potatoes themselves, they can begin to understand how it all works.
As shown in the video, exploring other autumn crops besides potatoes also seems educational.
And when various crops come out of an apron, children can learn with excitement.
[Hand Play Song] Rolling Potatoes
![[Hand Play Song] Rolling Potatoes](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WHsMlQxIRXc/sddefault.jpg)
Autumn is sweet potato digging season.
Many of you probably go digging at your preschool or with your family.
Here’s a hand-play song you’ll want to try before and after the event.
If you dance along to the Latin rhythm, it’ll boost everyone’s excitement for the dig.
The hand claps and Latin beat also add a rhythm-play element.
And while you’re digging, this tune is sure to be on heavy rotation in your head.
Give it a try at home!